Dialectical Behavior Therapy

We are a comprehensive DBT center, offering adherent DBT (skills group + individual therapy + phone coaching + consultation team for therapists).

Dialectical Behavior Therapy is an evidence-based treatment designed to help people with strong and difficult to handle emotions, impulsivity, and interpersonal chaos. DBT helps clients deal with crisis situations, develop a stronger sense of self, improve their focus and concentration, as well as improve interpersonal relationships, reduce avoidance behavior, and move towards living in their values and goals.

Dialectical Behavioral Therapy is:

  • Evidence-Based: Research has shown DBT to be an effective form of treatment for a variety of disorders, in particular borderline personality disorder. 
  • Skillful: You and your therapist will work on four sets of skills, including how to be mindful and live in the moment; how to tolerate difficult situations without making them worse; how to relate effectively to other people; and how to use emotions effectively and change painful emotions.
  • Active: Your therapist will take an active role as a teacher and coach. You will take an active role in your own recovery, learning and practicing skills in and out of session.
  • Acceptance and Change: DBT is founded on the idea that there is a balance between acceptance of who we are and our challenges and the striving for positive change.

Components of adherent DBT:

  • Skills Group: Weekly groups led by a DBT Therapist teach you skills for Mindfulness, Interpersonal Effectiveness, Emotion Regulation and Distress Tolerance.
  • Individual Therapy: DBT Therapists work with you one on one to help you build a Life Worth Living.
  • Coaching calls: DBT Therapists are available in between sessions to help you apply DBT skills to your everyday life.
  • Consultation Team: DBT Therapists meet and examine cases together to best conceptualize the case and ensure the best treatment is provided.

Types of DBT we provide include:

  • DBT Skills Group + Individual Therapy with either your current therapist or one of our DBT therapists
  • DBT Skills Group

Issues and diagnoses treated with DBT include:

Borderline personality disorder  Self-harm Suicidal behavior
Post-traumatic stress disorder Depression Anxiety disorders
Eating disorders, such as binge eating disorder and bulimia nervosa Substance use disorder

 

DBT FAQ’s
What is a Skills Group?

Skills groups are not support groups, but more similar to a class. You will learn the specific skills for DBT alongside other clients so that your individual therapy can be focused on applying these skills to current situations in your life.

How often do Skills Groups meet?

DBT Skills Groups meet weekly for 2 hours and operate on a 24-week cycle. Clients are encouraged to repeat the cycle 3 times. The first cycle is focused on skills acquisition. The second is focused on skill implementation. In the third cycle, clients work on applying skills in all relevant contexts.

Can I do Skills Group only?

If you have an individual therapist that is recommending you join a skills group as a supplement to therapy, you can join a skills group after an intake assessment to assure it is the right treatment for you and completion of 4 individual orientation sessions. We will ask for release of information for your therapist so that we can work collaboratively with them. 

Skills-only therapy, when you are not also in individual therapy, is appropriate for only a small portion of people who need a very low level of care. If you are not receiving the right amount of therapy, it can be hard to get better. An intake can help determine if skills-only therapy will be appropriate. If so, you will do 4 individual orientation sessions before joining a group. If we determine an individual therapist is needed in order to benefit from treatment, we would place you in a skills group only after you begin individual therapy at our center or elsewhere.

What dates and times are your Skills Groups?

Our DBT Skills groups meet at the following times:

In Person Adult Groups

  • Tuesdays from 5:30-7:30 pm, led by Christina Wright
  • Thursdays 12:00-2:00 pm, led by Kristin Lopez

Telehealth Adult Group

  • Wednesdays from 6:00-8:00 pm, led by Cheri Trahan Keene

In Person Adolescent Group

  • Thursday 5:30-7:00 pm, led by Kimberly Knopf and Mayra Torres Gonzalez

Telehealth Multifamily Groups

  • Thursdays 5:00-7:00 pm, led by Kristin Lopez and Christina Wright

Telehealth Support Persons Group

  • Tuesdays 6:00-8:00 pm, led by Cheri Trahan Keene

 

Our DBT Team:
Kristin Travis Lopez, LCSW
Christina Wright, LCSW
Mayra Torres, LPC

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kimberly Knopf, LPC
Emily Johnson, LPC Associate

 

 

DBT Supervisors:
Lori Prado, LPC-S     
Kay Watt, LPC-S, CEDS-S
Nicole Struble, LCSW-S